COPLAND
US, 1997, 104 minutes, Colour.
Sylvester Stallone, Harvey Keitel, Ray Liotta, Robert de Niro, Peter Berg, Janeane Garofalo, Robert Patrick, Michael Rapaport, Annabella Sciorra, Noah Emmerich, Cathy Moriarty, John Spencer.
Directed by James Mangold.
One of 1997's best films was LA Confidential. It was a complex study of police and social corruption and boasted excellent performances. It was set in Los Angeles, 1953. One of 1998's best films will be Copland, also a study of police and social corruption. However, it is smaller in scale, is set in present New Jersey - and also boasts excellent performances. The two are interesting companion pieces.
Although it is forbidden by state law in the US, police from the NYPD live across the Hudson in New Jersey. It turns out the Mafia has made a deal with corrupt officers and built them a nice, safe suburban town where they can relax - and launder drug money as well as influence politicians. However, a police chase goes wrong and sets in motion an investigation which leads to the exposure of the corrupt and challenges the conscience of the local sheriff who is looked down on but used by the police pack.
Perhaps nothing new, but well-written and well-acted, particularly by the unlikely star, Sylvester Stallone, the passed-over sheriff, a nice but lonely man, deaf in one ear because of a heroic rescue when he was young. By the time the film ends, he has found courage to confront. And this is presented like his predecessors in the west, the 3:10 to Yuma (ten years later James Mangold would direct a remake with Russell Crowe), High Noon style. Stallone at 50 can act well when well cast. Harvey Keitel is the head honcho of the rogue police and Ray Liotta is once again explosive as a cop tormented by both good and evil. Robert de Niro has a cameo as an internal affairs investigator. This is a thoughtful police drama.
1.A critical success? Entertaining police story? A variation on police stories? Characters, corruption, issues?
2.The opening and the New Jersey landscapes, the end? Looking across to New York City? The explanation about the police in the town? The transit authority police in New York, making money, Mafia connections? Setting up Garrison, New Jersey, as the cop town, Copland? The peaceful way of life? The difference from New York City? The streets and the tunnels, the river, homes, bars, precincts? The contrast with the New York streets and offices, Internal Affairs? Authentic atmosphere? The musical score?
3.The focus on Freddy Heflin, Sylvester Stallone and his presence and performance? His place in the town, his history? The link with Ray and the other police? His not being of the police but maintaining law and order? His difficulty with his ear, saving the drowning woman? His being friends with people? With Liz, visiting her, her dead husband? His observing life in Garrison, his watching the speeding cars with Cindy? The discussions about Garrison? Assisted by Bill Geisler? His being marginalised by the police? The particular cases, his chasing a car, the crash and its effect? The arrival of Moe Tilden? Discussions? His wariness? The issue with Superboy, the accident, the shooting, his disappearance? The investigations? His appearance at the party, Freddy and his decision, his chase? The discussions with Rose and her giving the information that he was in the tower? The abduction? The shooting, his being deafened again? The confrontation with Jack Rucker and the other corrupt police? The end? His going to Moe Tilden?
4.Ray as leader, tough, amoral, his status, his relationship with Jack Rucker and the other police? With Superboy? His decisions, the situation of Superboy, the shooting, the media and the PR? The story of his fall from the bridge? Disappearance? The funeral and the honours? The others at the bar, the parties? His hold over Superboy? The bar and the discussions with Figgsy, the clash? The issues with Joey? Superboy turning up at the party? His decision? The attempts to drown him? His being worried, having the gun, his escape? Going to the tower? The confrontation?
5.Jack Rucker and the other police, tough, corrupt, standover tactics, the clash with Figgsy? The abduction? The final confrontation with Freddy? Deaths?
6.Figgsy, his partner, his life as a policeman, not being part of the group, friendship with Freddie? Articulating his fight with Jack Rucker? Independent? The issue about the authorities or not? His meeting with the officer from New York in the bar, Freddy seeing it? The setting up of the fire, his girlfriend dying? His wanting the insurance? Not intending her death? His grief? Freddy working out what happened? Figgsy and his staying with Freddy, their discussions, the truth? His decision to leave, the U-turn, coming back and saving Freddy, the shooting?
7.Joey and Liz, the relationship, the looks at the funeral, their fights, his relationship with Rose? With Freddy? The case, the attack, his being left hanging from the building, his fall, his death and funeral?
8.Freddy and his assistants, Cindy, her sardonic remarks, trying to be assertive with the men? Her shrewdness? Deciding to leave? Bill Geisler, his devotion to Freddy, the dangers, Freddy letting him go because he was married?
9.Superboy, the rookie, naïve, the situation, watching the cars, the chase and the shooting? The newspaper reactions? His disappearance, the alleged suicide, the party? The drowning attempt? The gun, the end?
10.Moe Tilden and his assistant, Ray badmouthing him, his visits, the investigations in Garrison, the questions, shutting the door against Figgsy listening? The influence of the Mafia, his investigation being closed down, his anger? Freddie coming to see him, letting Freddy take the files, and waiting for the results?
11.Freddy as a lawman, the parallels with the western style but in the contemporary east? Legal corruption? Standover tactics? The police group and their collaboration, the consequences?
